racingmeridian.com

The Toronto Maple Leafs are now four years removed from their last playoff run. While enjoying some revelry with the Manchester United fan club a while back I was, as a notable loudmouth, approached by a recent arrival to the Big Smoke and invited out for a Cohiba. The arrival, an accountant, reasonable and sharp, wanted to discuss the Leafs and the town’s tolerance for repeated losing seasons. In all earnestness, I swear, he suggested setting the board of director’s vehicles on fire, and seeing if that would get a reaction. What next, I rather timidly inquired. Well, he whispered conspiratorially, then you set their homes on fire…Brian Burke, sleep easy. We’re going to give you all the time you need to get the Leafs back into contention, no need for extinguishers or insurance claims…Shane Mosley’s trainer, Nazim Richardson, has gone on the record concerning the events of the night of Jan 24^th, when he noted a hard substance in the gloves of Antonio Margarito as the fighter prepared to take to the ring to battle his charge. The facts, as related by Mr Richardson, clearly require further investigation. The Deputy Commissioner of the California Boxing Commission, summoned to the dressing room over an escalating conflict between the two camps, actually approved a glove already on Margarito’s fist. Nazim then summoned the Commissioner, who agreed that the glove should be removed and the hand examined. At this point a hard, rock like block was discovered under the padding on Margarito’s hand. The exchanges in the locker-room remind one of a bad Cagney movie, with the Margarito camp at one point appealing for Nazim’s compassion because Margarito was nursing an injury. The canny trainer, also the conditioner of Bernard Hopkins, snatched the block and removed it from the room. There is little doubt on a couple of issues. The Margarito camp had done this before and, if anything, had become overly casual and confident in their ability to load the gloves. Secondly, they had no consideration for the damage they would be inflicting on the brain and body of their competitor. There is a grassroots campaign, vocal and committed, demanding that Margarito be banned for life. Other voices are going further and asking that criminal charges be laid. A lasting memory for fight fans will be Margarito ruthlessly taunting a bloody and severely battered Kermit Cintron as the fighter rolled on the canvas, disoriented and unable to stand, showing no mercy. It is the turn of California legal authorities to provide Margarito a glance devoid of both pity and compassion…The Onion headline after the cycling hero’s recent fall, “Lance Armstrong: Riding A Bike Isn’t Something You Just Remember How To Do”…the final Kentucky Derby futures pool will be conducted this weekend, with the Derby a mere four weeks away. I recommend skipping this final stage, with one caveat. Only if you feel an animal is poised to breakthrough in the Blue Grass Stakes or Arkansas Derby, races conducted next week, should you move to bet that animal at what will be overlaid prices this weekend. For instance, if you think Win Willy is set to demonstrate in Arkansas that his win in the Rebel Stakes was no fluke, then by all means take the 30-1 or so you’ll get this weekend. But that is the only scenario which justifies not waiting until May 2^nd, when you are assured your horse actually has a berth in the starting gate…the possibility of Dunkirk, maybe the best three year old in training, missing the earnings cut-off for the Derby is very real. Because of his light record, a mere three races, he does not have the graded stakes earnings necessary to assure a spot in the race. His connections must be troubled, especially with the proclivity of no hopers, with padded records and earnings, to take a shot at running in America’s biggest race…the vast majority of tickets for U2’s Sept 16 & 17 shows at the Rogers Centre are priced at an outrageous 250 bucks. The upper rows of the 500 section, where it would be simply ludicrous to sit for a rock show, are set at 100 dollars. It looks like Bono is determined to squeeze every cent possible from the working class during a time of severe financial crisis. Bono, what would Jesus do? And if you are going to the show, please have the dignity and courage to turn your back if he starts to lecture you on your human shortcomings. With his personal take approaching one million dollars a show, I think the time for lectures is over…